A Ministry of Defence undated handout photo of Corporal Lee Brownson (left), and Rifleman Luke Farmer from 3rd Battalion, the Rifles who were named today as the two soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Friday. Photograph: MoD/PA

Two British soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan on Friday were today named by the Ministry of Defence as Corporal Lee Brownson and Rifleman Luke Farmer.

The pair, both from the 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, died while on patrol in southern Sangin following a bomb blast.

Rifleman Farmer's father spoke today of his "pride" at seeing his son join the army. Corporal Brownson, who leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children, was described as a "hero".

The deaths of the two men take the number of British service personnel who have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 to 249.

Sign up for the Guardian Today

Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.